Simone White
Melbourne,VIC
Summary
Dedicated Senior Social Worker committed to exceptional Social Work program delivery. Expertise in the area of trauma-informed care, vicarious trauma management, family violence, and child protection safety and risk management. Successful and respected Manager and Supervisor, leading with compassion and extensive knowledge, skill and expertise in Social Work practice. Commitment to the delivery of person-centred, culturally safe Social Work practice and advocacy in the best interests of patients.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Aboriginal Health Social Worker- Special Project
The Royal Women's Hospital
01.2023 - Current
- Providing trauma-specialised , culturally safe counselling, casework and advocacy to Aboriginal patients accessing maternity and abortion and contraception services.
- Advocacy, education and secondary consultation to medical and allied health clinicians, to advance culturally safe, trauma-informed health outcomes for Aboriginal patients.
- Specialised culturally safe advocacy for Aboriginal patients to Multidisciplinary forums.
- Creating and sustaining relationships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to enhance outcomes for Aboriginal patients.
- Managed complex caseload and care planning in collaboration with Aboriginal Health Liaison and Aboriginal midwifery teams.
Senior Counsellor
The Carer Gateway
12.2019 - 12.2022
- Provision of clinical supervision to counselling team members and broader allied health staff in the Carer Gateway program.
- Provision of group supervision and individual de-briefing and secondary consultation to broader allied health staff in the Carer Gateway program.
- Recruitment and orientation of new counselling team members.
- Provision of assessment, trauma-informed counselling and advocacy to carers of people with complex mental health needs, carers of people with disabilities, and carers of older people.
Manager National Disability RC Counselling Service
Blue Knot Foundation
01.2019 - 12.2019
- Led change management initiatives to achieve program transformation in the Disability Royal Commission Counselling Service.
- Developed relationships with key stakeholders including federal government and disability sector stakeholders to improve program provision and outcomes for people impacted by the Royal Commission.
- Launched quality assurance practices.
- Provided clinical supervision to counselling staff.
- Created and developed comprehensive policies and procedures to structure and guide clinical practice, program administration and delivery.
- Provided day to day clinical oversight of counselling practice, including senior clinical oversight of complex and high risk presentations.
Clinical Supervisor, Counsellor, Trainer, Research
Full Stop Foundation
11.2013 - 12.2019
- Provided clinical supervision to counsellors providing family violence and sexual assault assessment, risk and safety planning and therapeutic support to survivors/victims accessing national and state based telephone counselling services and face to face counselling.
- Delivered vicarious trauma training to organisations across Australia, including defence force, ATSI organisations, women's health orgs, frontline worker organisations.
- Delivered safe relationships training to University students and the NRL.
- Conducted research to inform submission for successful grant funding for a frontline trauma support program for frontline workers.
- Provided trauma-specialised counselling to survivors/victims of family violence and sexual assault.
PhD Student, Casual Lecturer, Tutor- Uni of Sydney
University Of Sydney
01.2011 - 11.2013
- Phd Research project investigating trauma experienced by Iraqi and Syrian refugees. Field research conducted in Jordan/Amman.
- Tutor to undergraduate students in the School of History and Philosophy of Science. Subject: The History and Philosophy of Psychology and Psychiatry.
- Casual Lecturer in the subject of The History and Philosophy of Psychology and Psychiatry.
Learning and Development Coordinator
Medibank Better Health Solutions
03.2008 - 12.2011
- Developed and implemented comprehensive training programs for mental health professionals delivering the NSW state-wide, 24/7 mental health triage service.
- Managed, developed and delivered new employee training for all NSW mental health triage and counselling professionals.
- Developed and delivered training for staff providing assessment, counselling and referral on 24/7 NSW EAP, gambling help and unplanned pregnancy support service.
- Created comprehensive training manuals for mental health and counselling professionals.
- Provided triage, crisis intervention, referral and counselling to service users accessing NSW state wide mental health triage service, gambling help, unplanned pregnancy support and EAP services.
Teacher- Primary and Secondary
Department Of Education
01.2007 - 12.2007
- Successfully completed three separate teaching blocks/contracts to primary and secondary school students at Melbourne schools. Teaching History, Geography and English to Secondary students and general curriculum to primary students.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents and colleagues.
Coordinator- POEM Project
Victoria University
01.2005 - 12.2006
- Coordinated the design, delivery and evaluation of customised education, training and transitional support programs for students disengaged from education, employment and community, enrolled in the POEM Program.
- The POEM Program (Partnerships, Education, Outreach Model) was a DEST funded transitional education and support program for young people aged 13- 19yrs
Research Coordinator
Monash University/The Alfred Hospital
06.2001 - 01.2004
- Coordinated the administration and delivery of an NHMRI funded research project by Professor Jayashri Kulkarni investigating the therapeutic use of synthetic estrogen in ameliorating the severity of psychotic symptoms in women and men.
- Recruited research trial participants according to ethics protocols at The Alfred Hospital (Psychiatry inpatient unit) and Community Mental Health service, working in collaboration with Psychiatrists, Registrars, Mental Health nurses and Community Mental Health Professionals.
- Conducted mental health assessments, monitoring mental health symptoms in trial participants, using standardised mental health tools for psychotic and mood symptoms.
- Worked closely with inpatient and community mental health teams supporting trial participants to ensure ethical and collaborative care.
- Presented trial/research findings at National Psychiatry research conferences.
Triage/Intake and Short Term Counsellor
Anglicare- Lilydale
02.1998 - 06.2001
- Participated in the design and implementation of a new triage and intake program at a large Anglicare service providing family and individual counselling, financial counselling, family violence programs, emergency relief, foster care, and drug and alcohol supports.
- Provision of intake assessment, crisis intervention, short-term counselling, advocacy and referrals to individuals and families to internal agency programs and external community and health services.
- Completed external training in drug and alcohol assessment, family violence, suicide intervention, and approaches to short term counselling as part of the implementation of the Intake/Triage service.
- Developed strong relationships with Intake team members, professionals in other organisational programs and community professionals, to deliver high quality intake, assessment, crisis intervention and counselling supports to individuals and families.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology And Anthropology/ English
La Trobe University
Melbourne, VICBachelor of Social Work - Social Work
La Trobe University
Melbourne, VICDiploma of Education - Secondary Education
La Trobe University
Melbourne, VICTrauma Specialised And Supervision Training
PESI Australia/ Centre For Mental Health Melbourne
Sydney, NSWSkills
- Trauma Specialised Counselling
- Professional Clinical Supervision
- Management
- Family Violence safety and risk assessment and counselling
- Sexual Assault safety and risk assessment and counselling
- Mental Health Professional
- Training and Education
- Research
- Policy development and implementation
Core Values
- Life long learning
- Reflective, ethical practice
- Respectful, collaborative multidisciplinary practice
- Leading with kindness and integrity
- Accountability to co-workers
- Commitment to upholding AASW standards of practice and ethical principles
Timeline
Aboriginal Health Social Worker- Special Project
The Royal Women's Hospital
01.2023 - Current
Senior Counsellor
The Carer Gateway
12.2019 - 12.2022
Manager National Disability RC Counselling Service
Blue Knot Foundation
01.2019 - 12.2019
Clinical Supervisor, Counsellor, Trainer, Research
Full Stop Foundation
11.2013 - 12.2019
PhD Student, Casual Lecturer, Tutor- Uni of Sydney
University Of Sydney
01.2011 - 11.2013
Learning and Development Coordinator
Medibank Better Health Solutions
03.2008 - 12.2011
Teacher- Primary and Secondary
Department Of Education
01.2007 - 12.2007
Coordinator- POEM Project
Victoria University
01.2005 - 12.2006
Research Coordinator
Monash University/The Alfred Hospital
06.2001 - 01.2004
Triage/Intake and Short Term Counsellor
Anglicare- Lilydale
02.1998 - 06.2001
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology And Anthropology/ English
La Trobe University
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
La Trobe University
Diploma of Education - Secondary Education
La Trobe University
Trauma Specialised And Supervision Training
PESI Australia/ Centre For Mental Health Melbourne
Similar Profiles
Amy BratbyAmy Bratby
Clinical Placement Student Midwife at The Royal Women's HospitalClinical Placement Student Midwife at The Royal Women's Hospital
Aria RattanAria Rattan
Volunteer Coordinator/Hospital Support Program at The Royal Women's HospitalVolunteer Coordinator/Hospital Support Program at The Royal Women's Hospital
Marjorie CammerMarjorie Cammer
IVF Nurse Coordinator at Royal Women's HospitalIVF Nurse Coordinator at Royal Women's Hospital